INNISFAIL- The Town of Innisfail is moving ahead this year with a pair of infrastructure replacement projects that will have a total cost of more than $2.6 million.
At town council’s regular meeting on Feb. 24, Steven Kennedy, director of operations for the Town of Innisfail, introduced two reports that addressed the need for two major infrastructure upgrades at separate areas of town.
Both reports had motions calling for the awarding of separate contracts to Rocky Mountain House-based Pidherney’s Inc. that had a value of $2,116,160.
However, when engineering and testing, along with construction and contingencies, are added the town’s total cost for both projects is $2,629,891.
Costs for both projects will be funded from the town’s Utility Capital Maintenance and Repair Reserve.
Council unanimously approved both tender motions.
Kennedy’s first report to council called for a major upgrade to underground infrastructure along 42 Ave., from 51 St. to 53 St. Cl.
“Through the detailed design it was determined that the alignment of the sanitary forcemain had to change at the rail crossing which created the replacement of the water main,” said Kennedy in his report to council.
“The forcemain has had multiple repairs and during the last repair the condition of the pipe was found to have a large amount of pitting showing, which indicates significant deterioration.”
Kennedy told council the water main is a 50-year-old 150 mm ductile iron pipe that will be “upsized” to accommodate future growth.
His report noted that due to the “complexity and unknowns” at the rail crossing it was recommended that the job carried a 15 per cent contingency.
As for Kennedy’s second report it called for a major underground infrastructure upgrade along 40 St., from 52 Ave. to 51 Ave.
He told council the existing 200 mm ductile iron water main has had three breaks along this section within the last two years, and the last inspection showed significant pitting along the bottom of the pipe.
Kennedy said the project design includes replacement of the water main, lining of the sanitary main and placing the services to the property line, and selective replacement of the sidewalk.
He said the roadway will be topped with asphalt millings for the remainder of the year and paved in 2026.
Council was told the project cost was over the budgeted amount of $750,000.
However, Kennedy added there is capacity in the Infrastructure Capital Reserve to cover the additional cost.
In the meantime, the town is not expecting the cost for these pair of infrastructure projects, specifically the materials needed for the underground work, to be impacted by threatened American tariffs.
"It is not, because they (Pidherney’s) scoped out that project the last couple months. One project came under budget, the other came over budget due to the complexity and higher contingency," said Todd Becker, the town's chief administrative officer, told the Albertan. "So to me it's not showing a huge impact from the anticipated tariffs.
"We're not seeing a risk like as we move forward with a pool project," added Becker. "We were going to find tariffs as a part of our risk register, and we don't know the impact until the detailed design is complete over the next month or so."
